Turbine water-wheel



(No Modem R. D. RALSTON. TURBINE WATB@ WHEEL.

Patented Apr. '20,1 1897.

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ROBERT D. RALSTON, OF WILSCOT, GEORGIA.

TU RBINE WATER-WHEEL.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,897, dated April20, 1897. Application inea May 15, 1896. sani No. 591,669. iN@ model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern' Be it known that I, ROBERT D. RALsroN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Vilscot, in the county ofFannin and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful TurbineWater-VVheel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to turbine waterwheels, and has for its object toconstruct an engine of this character which can be utilized to advantageon small streams, so that a comparatively large wheel can be operated bymeans of a relatively small stream and give better results than arepossible under like conditions with turbine water-wheels as generallyconstructed.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof, and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a side elevation of aturbine water-wheel embodying the principles of this invention. Fig. 2is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of therunner or motor wheel. Figflis a side elevation thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the drawings by thesame reference-characters.

The casing is composed of two parts l and 2, which have their opposingor meeting edges outwardly iianged and bolted or otherwise securedtogether. A spider 3, comprising crossed bars, strengthens and bracesthe lower portion of the bottom part 2 and provides a bearing for thevertical shaft 4 of the runner or motor wheel 5. A cap or plate 6 issecured to the upper end of the casing in any substantial manner.

The upper part 1 of the casing is provided at intervals in itscircumferential length with narrow chutes 7, which extend vertically andtangentially, so as to cause the jets of water to impact against thebuckets 8 of the motorwheel to propel the latter in the usual way.

A gate 9 encircles the part l and has openings 10 corresponding inposition and number with the chutes 7, so as to register with the latterwhen it is required to have the full capacity of the chutes disclosed.This gate is adapted to be turned to vary the size of the chutes orentirely close the saine and is operated by means of a vertical shaftll, having a pinion l2 meshing with a toothed portion 13 of the gate 9.By turning the shaft 1l the gate is moved in the desired direction toattain the required end, the shaft being turned by means ofa handle,wrench, or other tool applied thereto.

The runner or motor wheel is preferably cast, although this is notessential, and is hollow, the spaces being lled by blocks of wood 14,which are forced into the spaces and secured therein by friction or inany other convenient way.

The buckets 8 are formed in the periphery of the wheel and open at oneend through a side thereof, which in the present instance is the loweror bottom side of the wheel. The buckets curve rearwardly toward theirlower ends, and their front walls l5 extend radially and form shouldersfor the water to impact against when propelling the wheel. The upperends of the buckets vanish or merge into the peripheral surface of thewheel, and their inner walls slope gradually from the front walls l5 tothe peripheral surface, so that the tangential propelling-jets canstrike the front walls l5 and impart their full force for driving therunner or motor wheel. By reason of the rearward curvature of thebuckets at their lower or discharging ends the water after spending itsenergy upon the wheel escapes readily without detracting from the forceof the wheel. Viewed from the side or edge the runner or motor wheelpresents the appearance of having top and bottom rings and intermediatedepressions or pockets, the latter forming the buckets. Hence when inoperation the water is confined between the casing and the peripheralsurface of the motor-wheel and is utilized to the best advantage forpropelling the latter.

By having the buckets curving rearwardly throughout their length fromtheir upper IOO ends the water is readily discharged without detractingin the least from the speed of the wheel, and by having the front wallsradially disposed they receive the full impact of the Water, therebyresulting in converting a maximum amount of the force into efficientenergy. On reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the inner and outerwalls are straight and divergent toward their lower ends and inclinefrom the vertical in central vertical section, whereby the bucketsincline inwardly and increase in depth from top to bottom. The innerwalls curve rearwardly from the front walls, thence outwardly, andintersect with the periphery of the wheel on lines parallel with thefront walls, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4C. From the foregoing itwill be seen that the buckets are devoid of angles, recesses, orcavities tending to collect and hold Water, which would result inretarding the speed of the wheel. Moreover, the

buckets are constructed with especial reference to rdding themselvesquickly of the Water without impeding in the least the rotation of thewheel and to utilize a maximum amount of its force.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- Aturbine water-wheel constructed to operate horizontally and providedwith a series of buckets at intervals in its periphery inclininginwardly and curving rearwardly from their upper ends and openingthrough the lower side of the wheel a short distance from the periphery,and having the outer and the inner walls straight and divergent incentral vertical section, and having the front walls extending radiallyto provide abrupt surfaces t0 receive the full impact of the water, andhaving the said inner walls curving rearwardly, thence outwardly andintersecting with the periphery of the wheel on lines parallel with thesaid front walls, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBT. D. RALSTON.

lVitnesses W. C. THOMAS, H. C. CURTIS.

